Chandigarh, August 21
Posted for security duty at the Sector 39 residence of Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sood, two Punjab Police personnel, who were heavily drunk on duty, not only created a ruckus on Friday night but were up in arms against each other.

The police was called after one of the policemen tried to pull a rifle of another guard in a fit of rage. The police reached the spot and found the two of them to be engaged in a violent scuffle, with one of them smeared with blood on his face. The matter was resolved following police intervention and a daily diary report was lodged in the Sector 39 police station.

The UT Police conducted a medical check-up of both cops, which revealed that both had consumed large quantities of alcohol. The UT police has written to the Punjab Police India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in charge recommending their suspension.

The scuffle occurred late night in the Punjab minister’s house, where head constable Kulwinder Singh, who is security in charge of Punjab Minister Tikshan Sood, got into a scuffle with his colleague constable Surjit Singh. Incidentally, it was the first day of duty of constable Surjit Singh at the house of the minister and he came drunk. Kulwinder Singh asked the constable to go back and did not allow him to join duty on account of the constable being in an inebriated state.

However, head constable Kulwinder Singh was himself drunk, which resulted in the constable confronting him. A heated scuffle soon began on the outer premises of the minister, where the two were supposed to be on guard duty.

Constable Surjit
Singh

was injured in the face, following which he tried to pull a rifle of another security guard in order to avenge his injury.

Sood’s panicky personal assistant then called the police control room to inform them that a shot had been fired in the minister’s house. The police reached the spot and found an injured constable Surjit Singh along with some blood on the floor. Head constable Kulwinder Singh, who also sustained injuries on the right hand, also fumbled in front of the UT policemen since he was drunk.

He tried to explain away his injury saying he had fallen from the stairs. However, on finding both policemen to be injured, the UT police realised that it had not been an incident of firing but incident of drunk cops having engaged in a violent scuffle.

A subsequent medical examination of both cops revealed that they were heavily drunk. However, the minister’s staff refused to file a police complaint, saying they would take up the matter with the Punjab Police.

Chandigarh, August 21
Following large-scale frauds being committed by operators of Healthyway Immigration, the UT Police is all set to seek the blacklisting of the firm. For the purpose, the police will write to the UT Home Secretary, requesting him to take up the matter with the authorities concerned, especially the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The immigration firm is in the dock for duping scores of clients across the region on fake promises of sending them abroad. The prime accused, Amit Kakkar, was remanded to another two days’ police custody today and raids were on to arrest Kuldeep Singh, who is the mastermind behind the fraud.

UT SSP Naunihal Singh said the decision to seek the cancellation of the licence of the firm was taken after it came to light that certain agents of the company were still active in various cities of Punjab and were accepting applications for visa processing.

“It is a huge racket affecting hundreds of residents. The agents are still accepting forms raking in huge amounts of money. We will be writing to the UT Home Secretary to take up the matter with the MHA to blacklist the firm,” said Naunihal Singh.

‘Embassies being taken for a ride’

Besides forging bank documents, operators of Healthyway Immigration also deposited huge amounts in banks of their clients to enable documentation process while applying for a visa. The amounts were deposited to open fixed deposits and then arrange loan letters for the applicants applying for a student visa. Once the applications were sent to the embassy with the genuine bank documents, the agents used to withdraw all money they deposited with the banks. As a result, the embassies were taken for a ride in the absence of regular checks from the banks, the police said.

“It was all well managed and the modus operandi is such that even the embassies were not able to detect the crimes. The agents used to deposit the amounts with the banks, procure loan against a fixed deposit and then apply for visa,” said the police.

Police officials said hundreds of such visa applications processed by Healthyway were pending with the Canadian Embassy.

“To avoid such frauds, the embassies need to confirm from the banks whether the loan is in debit or credit as well as the nature of loan,” said an investigating officer.

Chandigarh, August 21
Becoming the first “smoke free” city in the country is proving dear for Chandigarh. Rather than commending the UT administration for achieving this feat, the central government appears to be penalizing it by denying it funds under the National Tobacco Control Programme to further strengthen implementation of anti-tobacco laws.

Though the government had made a provision for a financial outlay of Rs182 crore in the eleventh five-year plan for the programme, the UT health department has been striving in vain to get a mere Rs 15.18 lakh of that amount. Sources said the rather strange logic for denying funds is that since the city already was supposedly smoke free the administration did not require more money for the campaign.

UT administration officials have claimed though the city became “smoke free” in July 2007 the health department had received no central funding. They said in order to sustain the “smoke free” label, funds were required for continuous sensitization, awareness, monitoring and enforcement but the central government appeared to think otherwise.

A senior UT health official said the administration had “not sat idle after achieving the smoke free status” but had gone further with its initiative by closing down all hookah bars that were fast becoming popular among youngsters. “It has also empowered the municipal corporation’s inspectorate staff and has proposed legislation to bring the tobacco trade under licensing”, the official added.

Interestingly, a national tobacco survey conducted in 2010 by the central health ministry through its Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) revealed the proportion of smokers and tobacco chewers in the city’s

population declined from 30 percent in 2005-06 to 14 percent in 2009-10. This is no mean achievement when the figure for the country hovers around 35 percent, say officials.

The sources added the health department had sought about Rs 15 lakh in fiscal 2009-10 for various anti-smoking efforts including hiring a psychologist, a social worker, two programme assistants and setting up an office for monitoring implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme. Besides, Rs 2 lakh was sought for training staff. The same amount of money has been sought for the current fiscal as well, even though officials are not very hopeful in getting it.

Hemant Goswami, a member of the Chandigarh Tobacco Control Cell and president of the Tobacco Free India Coalition, told The Tribune: “It’s surprising the central government is not releasing funds to (the UT administration) to sustain its (anti-tobacco) campaign but is giving them to various other states that have otherwise not been successful in achieving any results”.

Chandigarh, August 21
After nearly five years of efforts by parents of students, the city’s Government College of Art, Sector 10, has in a unique initiative introduced an advanced diploma course in fine arts exclusively for the deaf, dumb and mentally challenged from the current academic session.

What makes this course special is that both students and teachers will have a hearing and or speech impairment.

Despite the challenge of undertaking higher studies, these special students will be prepared for practical examinations and all other activities in the course curriculum.

To begin with the course will have five seats, one each in applied arts, painting, sculpture and graphics. This time seats for sculpture and graphics had more takers, whereas admissions for applied arts and painting specializations have yet to gain momentum.

Even though the proposal to start this course had been in the pipeline for over five years, college officials claimed preparing the syllabi and getting the necessary approval took time. “We’ve invited applications for this course and have even hired a guest faculty member, Kamalnayan Bhan, who also has a hearing and speech disability. The process of drawing up the course syllabi and then getting the necessary approvals from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Panjab University takes a lot of time. Once the process is completed the PU senate’s nod has also to be obtained. The entire process takes over a year,” said college principal DS Kapoor.

Incidentally, the first letter on introduction of the course to the UT administration by deaf and dumb students and their parents was sent in 2007. Despite repeated reminders timely action was not forthcoming. The situation was exacerbated by procedural delays in getting approvals from the AICTE and PU.

The Students’ Council elections are very important for the representation of students in managing and representing their own affairs with the university management. The Students’ Council election provides a platform to develop leadership skills. The issue gains importance in the context that there is a big dearth of educated leaders in India who make laws and govern.

The students’ politics at Panjab University is getting murkier day-by-day. This was more because student leaders have become more self-centered, these days. They do not know what the real issues of the campus are? They just keep raking up petty issues to gain popularity. Student leaders are not the only one to be blamed for all these protests and brawls. They are always backed by different lobbies of senators, who use student leaders as a tool to pressurise the authorities for their personal gains.

When the time comes to take action against the troublemakers, the authority always makes namesake committees to avoid any accountability and then with the help of senators they go scot free without any punishment. According to my viewpoint, low-standard politics is going on in the university and this is hampering the overall growth of our prestigious institute. Protests for petty issues will not be solved unless the senators stop using student leaders for their personal gains. Furthermore, there is a need of better coordination between the PU authorities and students leaders. The democratic process of the Students’ Council election should not be stopped.

Mohan Singh
Sran, Ex-chairman, PUSU

Don’t conduct elections

I was very amazed to see the students’ frenzy on the Panjab University campus during the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) polls in September 2004. I had come from a college in Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and had witnessed frenzied rallies on the campus. Rush and the noise at the Open House where all student parties are allowed to send their candidates to address their fellow students was an unbelievable experience. How could the authorities allow such a senseless activity?

Students who had nothing to do with studies were the leaders. The issues were only wild allegations against each other. These leaders were instead content giving assurance to provide night bus service for the girls, throughout the year; there was academicactivity like debates or discussions on the campus. I think the university should not conduct the elections. Instead, classroom representatives from each department are a better option.

Sahil
Bhanot, Seattle , USA

Core issues ignored

I think the university senate should take up the issue of elections in the house meeting for a detailed discussion, as to whether they should be continued at all. In more than a decade after the election process recommenced on the campus, I am not sure if one can quote even a single instance when students have taken up issues related to academics or student placements. The noise over 'students placements' has definitely been raised in the student poll agenda. There have been a couple of meetings where even the university responded, but nothing concrete has come out of it so far. I am not asking the university to close down the chapter of student representation. I mean only a debate. Students on their own can sit and decide on a changed job profile of the campus council. It will be nice if student leaders from different parties sit on a common platform and look at the issue. However, going by the existing system, I think the university will have to take the initiative and get all the parties on a common ground.

Prof SK
Jindal, Mohali

Make amendments in poll regulation

I was a student of department of Public Administration in 2001 the year Santokhwinder Singh Nabha was elected the president. I campaigned for SOPU, which won the elections. There were clashes and even police detentions, however, majority of the workers were not at all affected by the incidents. These activities were largely confined to the boy’s hostels. While, our group did not dream of any career in politics, however, the nearly one-month involvement during the polls left an indelible impact on our personalities. Leave aside the violence or show of muscle power. The elections also has a very positive side of creating bond among students, allowing group leadership, identifying poll issues, standing out against criticism from the opposition and impressing the voters.

In fact, the experience of elections during the two-year I spent on the campus is inseparable from my memory. I too have read about the growing incidents of violence and think the university needs to make amendments in poll regulation. The university should not ban the elections because these are a training ground for understanding the relevance of democracy.

Deepshikha
Narang,Bangalore.

Elections must be held peacefully

Violence on the Panjab University campus has become a routine feature and ferocious fights are largely seen during elections. With every passing year, there is increase in brawls, clashes, police intervention, FIRs and court cases. Student leaders go around the campus like "mafia dons" and each group wants to show the other down through its manpower. In a democratic country, everyone has the right to raise his/her voice. Through elections, the students learn leadership qualities. A student council is the right forum for the authorities to connect to the students. Elections must be held in a peaceful, disciplined and conducive atmosphere on the campus. The police and university authorities should introduce stringent measures and ensure proper surveillance to prevent any unlawful activities on the campus. The local police and security in-charge should keep a check on the students carrying weapons. Anyone found indulging in violent activity should be banned. Also, the students’ leaders of political parties should shun violence by keeping themselves away from personal disputes and criminal activities.

Dr. Shruti K
Chawla, Sec tor 38, Chandigarh

l Elections to the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) have been trivialised, particularly in the context of no-student participation in improvement of academic environment. The student leaders want nothing more than minor concessions in admissions, getting roll numbers and their hostel stay. There has only in been a rise in the number of cases of violence every year. Write to us your take on the need and relevance of student polls at PU and affiliated colleges in the city to the
openhouse@tribunemail.com

Chandigarh, August 21
Sending a strong message to the government, thousands of Anna Hazare’s supporters turned out in over 400 vehicles to take part in a motor rally that moved through various parts of the city today.

Protesters from various walks of life climbed atop their cars, holding the Tri-colour in their hand, to voice their support.

Youngsters sit atop a car as they pour out in support of Anna Hazare on his Jan Lokpal Bill by holding a rally near Sector 15; and (right) Family members of policemen hold a candle-lit vigil at
Sector 18-17 roundabout in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photographs

Unprecedented scenes were witnessed as crowds poured on to the city roads and moved through the city in their vehicles, including cars, auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.

The Madhya Marg was the epicenter of the protest, as Anna’s supporters voiced their support holding Tri-colours and placards depicting anti-corruption slogans.

The residents, including the youth and senior citizens, took part in the rally.

People started assembling at the Sector 7-8 roundabout in the afternoon amidst singing of patriotic songs and waving of the Indian flag by protesters wearing Gandhi caps.

Rashmi Singh (65), who was part of the rally, said she would continue to protest against corruption until the Jan Lokpal Bill is introduced.

“I will lend my full support to Anna’s fast and spread awareness on the Jan Lokpal Bill among residents,” she added.

From the Madhya Marg, the rally turned left at the Matka Chowk and moved across Sectors 16 and 15 to enter the Panjab University campus.

It then re-entered Sector 15 and crossed Sectors 23 and 22 before heading towards the southern Sectors. The rally culminated at the Sector 7 roundabout.

Gaurav Goel, member of Aawaaz (NGO), said the fight against corruption would continue with similar activities in the future as well.

Meanwhile, family members of police personnel also joined the protest by holding a march from the Police Lines in Sector 26.

In the evening, candle-lit vigils were held near the Sector 17-22 and Sector 7-8 roundabouts.

Similarly, the chain fast by members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) at the Sector 17-22 roundabout entered its sixth day today. They also held a candle-lit vigil and were joined by social activists, teacher and students.

The lane leading towards the residence of local Member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal in Sector 28 was barricaded by the police after a section of people tried to stage a protest outside his house.

The protesters later entered a park on the rear of Bansal’s house and raised anti-corruption and anti-government slogans.

Similarly, a protest was held near Kapil Sibal’s Sector-9 house, following which security was beefed-up.

Chaos on roads

l
The city came to a standstill following the motor rally held in support of Anna Hazare today. Motorists had to change their routes to avoid the snarl-ups on roads as rally progressed through different parts of the city. Though the roads had relatively less traffic, it being a Sunday, motorists on the internal roads had to wait for the rally to cross. However, some had to change their routes to avoid the rush.

Prohibitory orders

l The Chandigarh administration has prohibited public in general and any member thereof from forming an assembly of five or more persons, taking out processions, making speeches, raising slogans or carrying of lathis within the radius of 500 metres of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, residences of Haryana and Punjab Chief Ministers, Haryana Raj Bhawan, for a period of two days. Additional District Magistrate ML Sharma issued the orders. The order will come into force with effect from August 23.

Chandigarh, August 21
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has stopped the recovery of pay and allowances from the pension of a disabled Lieutenant Colonel who had been invalided out of the Army due to a psychiatric illness. It was found that the Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA) had incorrectly revised the date of his effective discharge from service to an earlier date and had started deducting the salary paid to him for the said period even though he was still in service.

The officer had been invalided out on March 31, 2003. The CDA authorities later issued a corrigendum changing the date of invalidation to September 3, 2002, and had started recovering the pay and allowances of the petitioner granted while in service from September 2002 to March 2003.

Terming the aforesaid action totally illegally and arbitrarily and that too without any show-cause notice, the petitioner had contended that he received a revised corrigendum pension payment order five years after his invalidation, specifying the change in dates and that Rs 2.39 lakh paid to him on account of pay and allowances till March 31, 2003 were to be recovered.

He had been hospitalised in various military hospitals for psychiatric ailment, attributable to military service, from March to October 2002, spending a total 211 days in hospital and on sick leave. According to leave rules, no pay and allowances are admissible for hospitalisation beyond 180 days. On October 4, 2001, he was discharged and sent to his unit, where he stayed for four days. He was again hospitalised after this till March 31, 2003. On seeing no improvement in his disability, the officer was invalided from service and dispatched directly to home in a “very delicate medical condition”. He was granted pension with effect from April 1, 2003.

When he took up the case of the corrigendum with the authorities, it was discovered that the CDA had not taken into account his joining back on duty from October 4 to October 9, 2002, and had treated the entire period from March 8, 2002 to March 31, 2003 as hospitalisation and had further treated the period from September 4, 2002 onwards as retirement. The CDA had hence wrongly treated the date of pension as September 4, 2002 instead of March 3, 2003.

The CDA later issued a letter stating that the revised date of invalidation shown by the pension authorities was indeed incorrect and it was to be corrected accordingly, but the recovery was correct since no pay and allowances were admissible from September 2002 to March 2003 on account of hospitalisation.

The petitioner contended that he had been on duty from October 4 to 9 in between two spells of hospitalisation and he had only crossed the 180 days limit by 31 days in the first spell.

The case

l
The officer had been invalided out of the Army due to a psychiatric ailment on March 31, 2003

l The CDA had wrongly revised the date of his discharge from service to an earlier date

l The CDA was deducting his salary for the said period even though he was still in service

l He had been hospitalised for his ailment and spent 211 days in a hospital

l According to leave rules, no pay and allowances are admissible for hospitalisation beyond 180 days

Chandigarh, August 21
On account of its historic merit and Le Corbusier’s world stature, Chandigarh has become a global heritage city and the Mecca of modern urbanisation, where architects and planners from all over the world come on their professional pilgrimage.

These averments were made by Dr SS Bhatti, former principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, at a seminar on “Chandigarh: Modern Heritage”, organised by the Association of British Scholars (ABS) here today.

The speaker traced the link of Le Corbusier’s planning postulates of sun, space and verdure to their scriptural significance embodied in India’s centuries-old ethico-spiritual triad: Satyam, Shivam, and Sundaram.

He demonstrated by illustrated analysis his holistic approach to the study and identification of heritage in the planning, architecture, urban design, landscape, and art of Chandigarh. He also drew attention to the historic contribution of the husband-and-wife team of British architects - E Maxwell Fry and Jane B Drew, as well as Le Corbusier’s cousin Pierre Jeanneret who produced magnificent designs to give Chandigarh its unique architectural identity. Dr Bhatti also emphasised the little-known fact that it was Dr MS Randhawa who furnished design for the city’s landscape, and it is by his significant contribution that we so fondly call Chandigarh, “the City Beautiful”.

The talk was followed by a panel discussion in which VK Kapoor, convener, INTACH Chandigarh, SL Kaushal, former Chief Architect, Punjab, and Sumit Kaur, Chief Architect, Chandigarh Administration, participated. KK Kaul, ABS secretary, conducted the proceedings while DV Bhatia, ABS president, also spoke on the occasion.

Mohali, August 21
The second day of Xpressions ’11 at Manav Mangal Smart School, here today was a crowd- puller and ended on a high note.
“Abhi Baaki Hain - an Ode to Bollywood” was done up in a stylish manner with the nostalgia of the past and the present of Bollywood. The hallmark of the room was that the student volunteers were wearing T-shirts with famous dialogues of Hindi movies written on them.

Another room, ‘Together We Can’, had rangolis on various social themes such as save water and female foeticide. It was also a big attraction.

The positive and negative aspects of technology among youth was depicted in a room “Tech and Youth”. Another informative room was “After +2 What?” which focused on various career options that the children had after Class 12 instead of just focusing on the engineering and medical fields.

“Mystery Station .com” was a wonderfully portrayed room by the english department with a tribute to writers whose works were dedicated to mystery and crime. Another room from the same department was on styles of poetry named “Panorama”.

“Junk It Out and Fit Is In” was skillfully set up by Class I on healthy and unhealthy lifestyles.

The rooms based on “Our Cottage Industries” carried an amazing collection of things from various states of India. Various festivals - religious and national - were beautifully depicted in two rooms by the kindergarten with their children explaining and interacting with visitors with confidence.

Director Sanjay Sardana said that organising an exhibition on such a vast scale required tremendous efforts, but it was a great educational tool for students as well as visitors.

Chandigarh, August 21
The UT estate office today asked 377 residents of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony at Mauli Jagran to make their arrangements elsewhere as the colony will soon be demolished. A final list of residents who are ineligible under the UT’s Slum Rehabilitated Scheme was displayed at the colony today. Besides, prior announcements about the demolition were also made.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, UT Assistant Estate Officer Rahul Gupta said these residents would be removed after Monday.

Three different groups of residents had approached the district court against their removal last week.

“The court has ordered the office to follow the procedure as per its rules and regulations. The action is being taken under the rules,” said Gupta, adding that the estate office had served the notices on residents 21 days ago.

The residents were also given appropriate chance to claim their eligibility, added the official. The colony will soon be removed and the site handed over to the Chandigarh Housing Board for the construction of flats under the slum rehabilitation scheme, said Gupta.

Panchkula, August 21
Even as the local police is yet to get any breakthrough in the murder case of a 65-year-old woman by a domestic help last night, the incident has brought to fore the callousness of local residents towards registering the details of their servants with the police. The family neither had any photograph of the servant nor idea about the address of his other family members.

Last night, the servant, identified as Akhilesh, killed 65-year-old Shanti Devi and injured another woman, Isha, besides her two daughters.

Praveen Kumar, resident of house No. 575, Sector 12, and Akhilesh’s employer, told the police that the accused was known to another servant employed at one of his relative’s house at Sirsa, Haryana.

Local residents have failed to get the antecedents of their servants verified by the police, which has exposed them to such risks, said a senior police officer.

Chandigarh, August 21
With the trading community divided on the issue of Sunday shopping, the UT Administration is caught in a Catch-22 situation.

More than two and a half months after the UT Administration “disfavoured” seven-day shopping on the plea of violation of labour laws under the Shops and Commerial Establishments Act, the administration is yet to decide on the issue.

Acting on the representations of traders, the UT Administration had formed a committee under the Addtional Deputy Commissioner to evolve a consensus on the issue. With the trading community clearly divided on the issue, no consensus has emerged on the issue so far.

A section of traders termed Sunday shopping as “socially not acceptable”, claiming that businessmen like other people also needed a day off. Since Chandigarh has a five-day week, a majority of people prefer to shop on Saturday. Since markets in Panchkula, besides shopping malls, were open on Sunday, there was nothing wrong in having an off day for traders and their workers, this section claimed.

However, another section claimed that entry of MNCs in the retail sector had made business competitive and this had necessitated seven-day shopping in the city, which is witnessing a retail revolution. Moreover, the shopping malls were open on Sunday also and it would work out to shopkeepers disadvantage if the Sunday off was enforced on the traders, this section claimed. The Sunday shopping started in the city on a regular basis in 2004. With the emerging shopping mall culture and entry of multi-national companies in the retail sector, the concept of seven-day shopping picked up momentum in recent years. The changing socio-economic environment and the requirements of residents were cited as reasons for the introduction of Sunday shopping. Sources in the retail sector said in the wake of the single brand and multi-brand stores in the city, particulary in Sector 17, there was intense competition among the retailers.With profit margins declining, the sales targets going up, the seven days was the need of the hour. However, the seven-day concept shopping gave rise to the issue of the violation of labour laws.

Varying views

l
A section of traders terms Sunday shopping as “socially not acceptable”, claiming
that businessmen like other people also need a day off. Since Chandigarh has a five-day week, a majority of people prefer to shop on Saturday. However, another section claims the entry of MNCs in the retail sector has made business competitive and this has necessitated seven-day shopping in the city, which is witnessing a retail revolution

Panchkula, August 21
Bumpy roads, heaps of garbage and faulty streetlights have made the life of Sector 8 residents miserable in
Panchkula.

While nearly half of streetlights in the area are lying out of order, leaving the streets of the sector dark during nights, the residents of kanal houses on the back lane of hotels are forced to live with the heaps of garbage dumped on the roadside.

“We have brought up these issues with the authorities time and again, but to no avail. We have all records of correspondence made with them, but it seems no one in the Municipal Council or HUDA find it necessary to solve the problems of the residents of this sector,” said Meva Singh, president of the Sector 8 Residents Welfare Society.

A potholed road crying for repair at Sector 8 in Panchkula.

“The garbage dumped near the hotels is not only leading to unsanitary condition in the area, during rainy season the stench emanating from the garbage forces the residents in the vicinity to keep the widows of their houses shut all the time,” said Rohit Sharma, a local resident.

“The sector does not has any community centre or a library, leaving the elders with no place to mingle with each other,” he said.

Executive Officer of the Panchkula Municipal Council KK Jain, when contacted, said the complaints of all residents of Panchkula were addressed as soon as these reached to him.

A man takes bath in open behind a showroom leading to accumulation of water on the road at Sector 8 in
Panchkula. Tribune photos: Nitin Mittal

The victim was raped during her stay in Nari Niketan. Later, she was shifted to Sector-47 based Aasherya, a home for mentally challenged. She was found pregnant on May 16, 2009, by the asylum authorities.

High Court had ordered to terminate the pregnancy, but later the Supreme Court stayed it. After which the victim gave birth to a baby in December 2009.

Chandigarh, August 21
The demand for a hospital by those living in the southern sectors of the city seems to have been heeded as the UT Administration will soon come up with a 300-bed hospital.

Representatives of the Federation of Sector Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC), at a recent meeting with KK Sharma, Adviser to UT Administrator, were assured that the land for the hospital would soon be identified and construction started.

FOSWAC general secretary Hitesh Kumar Puri said the UT officials assured them of constructing a 300-bed government hospital soon.

“We have been communicated that the file has already been approved by the planning commission and the project will begin soon,” Puri added.

Other issues discussed during the meeting included problems related to traffic management and parking.

FOSWAC chairman PC Sanghi said they had also demanded the mandatory installation of small treatment plants to recycle water for use by big institutions to solve the problem of low water pressure.

The residents also demanded the setting up of a power generation plant and production of electricity through solar energy to cope with the increasing demand in
the city.

However, the issue of formulation of a comprehensive Master Plan for the city and its peripheral areas — for future planned development and growth without affecting the basic character of the city — taken up by the organisation was rejected by the UT officials, claiming that it was a policy matter that had no concern with the problems of residents.

The issue of illegal paying guests accommodations in the city could not be discussed.

Also, the FOSWAC demand for the introduction of a housing scheme for the lower-middle income group was turned down by the administration as the city did not have enough land for such a housing scheme.

Chandigarh, August 21
As many as 390 recruits, including 61 women, were inducted as general duty constables into the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on completion of training at the force’s Basic Training Centre (BTC) at Ramgarh near here yesterday.

ITBP Director General RK Bhatia reviewed the passing out parade, commanded by Constable Gurjeet Kaur, and took the salute. Addressing the gathering, he urged the newly inducted troops to strive for professional excellence and uphold the traditions and ethos of the force. He exhorted them to face any challenge that they may face in their personal or professional live with courage and dignity.

BTC Commandant HS Goraya highlighted the training activities of the centre and the process of moulding a raw recruit into a professional soldier capable of meeting varied challenges. A large number of senior ITBP officers, including IG Training VK Upretti, DIG’s and battalion commandants, were present on the occasion.

The Muncipal Corporation challaned 110 encroachers in various markets. In a special anti-encroachment drive, the Municipal Corporation challaned 110 encroachers and seized various items and material from Shastri Market, Sector 22, Sadar Market, Sector 19, Sector 7, and Sukhna lake here on Sunday.The drive was carried out peacefully under the directions of additional commissioner Lalit Siwach and supervised by enforcement inspector Kashmira Singh along with supporting staff of the enforcement wing of MC.

The additional commissioner said it was observed that the some defaulters encroached upon the MC land on holidays. Thus the Municipal Corporation planned to carry out a special anti-encroachment drive on a holiday and this would be continue.

Children’s book released

Author Chatura Rao, launched her latest book for kids, ‘Growing Up In Pandupur ’ at the British library in Chandigarh on Saturday evening. The 13 stories of Pandupur have stuck a chord and touched the hearts of the children and their parents. The book has been very well received by reviewers, too,” said the author, who has co-written the book with her sisterAdithi.

Seminar

Intrinsic to Chandigarh’s master plan concept is its outstanding universal value by virtue of which it transcends the requirement of 100-year age to become a modern heritage. Designed by the 20 the century’s greatest architect, swiss-born French Le Corbusier, this urban complex represents a master piece of human creative genius. These reflections were made by Dr S Bhatti, a former principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, in his presentation made during a seminar on “ Chandigarh: Modern Heritage” as a guest lecture.

Appointed

Grassroots leader Satinder Gill from the Mohali region has been appointed as the all-India general secretary of the Youth Akali Dal. Gill said his first priority would be to take the achievement of the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government to the masses ahead of 2011 Punjab election so that the SAD-BJP combine retained power in the state.

Governor greets people

Punjab Governor and the UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil, on Sunday extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Janamashtami. In his message, Patil said that the joyous festival remind everyone to be honest in their conduct and actions and to perform their duty sincerely.

Car launched

Prestige Honda, Lally Automobiles, launched a ‘New Jazz-Play time’s back’ Jazz car model here on Sunday. The new model of the car will come with an i-VTEC engine to have better fuel efficiency. The five-speed manual transmission car also includes a big cabin space, alloy wheels, tailgate spoiler, aerodynamic bumper, fender and also premium beige-black interiors.

The support to Anna Hazare on his movement against corruption by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is morally indecorous said MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu. Acquiring farmers land without their consent and even without paying them the market rate is great injustice being to the farmer’s class. Sidhu criticised the decision of Badal government, who is supporting Anna Hazare, but was itself involved in such cases and facing farmers’ resentment. The MLA further demanded that Badal before supporting Anna Hazare should first see his colleagues’ characters, most of them are involved in corruption cases and these corrupted minister should be shunted out. — TNS

The junior wing of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22-D,
Chandigarh, celebrated Janamashtami. Students were dressed as Radha and Lord Krishna. Stories from Lord Krishan’s life were narrated to them. They also enacted some scene from the life of Lord Krishna. They danced on flute tunes and sweets were also
distributed.

AKSIPS -41

The festival of Janamashtami was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm at AKSIPS-41 by the pre-primary wing. The students were apprised of the significance of the occasion and were made aware of the traditions and customs of the country. Students of class I and II visited ISKCON in Sector 36-B,
Chandigarh, to get valuable information about Lord Krishna, and to see the
jhankis.

Government school

Janamashtami was celebrated at Government Middle School, Sector 26,
(B.D.C), Chandigarh. On the occasion, students participated in a fancy dress competition. Students dressed up as Lord Krishna,
Radha, gopis and other characters presented songs and dance. The headmaster congratulated the participants for an amazing
display.

MDAV School

Janamashtami was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm on the MDAV School premises. Students disguised in the attire of Lord Krishna and Radha were looking extremely beautiful. The students were told that Lord Krishna was the unchallenged hero of his times, both in terms of his physical powers and his intellectual brilliance. At the end of the
programme, sweets were distributed among the students.

DAV- 8,
P’kula

Tiny tots of DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Sector 8,
Panchkula, celebrated Janamashtami with great enthusiasm and religious
fervour. Children of the kindergarten section participated in variety of activities organised during the day. The purpose was to familiarise the children with the occasion and the purpose of the celebration.

St. Vivekanand
Millennium

Janamashtami was celebrated with gaiety in St. Vivekanand Millennium School, Dera
Bassi, which began with colourful cultural programmes. Students of primary classes donned the roles of Lord Krishna, The event brought awareness among the children about the traditional customs while enjoying the pranks of Lord Krishna through various dances. Acting principal Piyush Punj applauded the efforts of the students.

Science exhibition

As many as 15 teams from various schools exhibited their models at the science exhibition held at Saint Soldier International School, Sector 28-B. The theme of the exhibition was green energy. In ‘Category A’, Arham Bansal and Devansh of
MRA, Sector 27 A, were adjudged first. In ‘Category B’, Jatin Sagwan and Aditya Madan of St. John’s School were adjudged first and in ‘Category C’, Fatehjit Singh and Ajaypal of Saint Soldier International School stood first. — TNS

Chandigarh, August 21
An AIDS awareness and health society of Postgraduate Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, organised an essay writing and slogan writing competition for the students on Saturday.

Dr Surinder, convener of the society, encouraged the students to participate in the event. More than 40 students participated enthusiastically. Farzana of BA -III bagged the first prize, Maurya of B.Com-I and Mamta Negi of B.A-II received the second and third prizes respectively in the slogan writing competition. Mamta Negi of B.A-II got the first prize, Sautrik Chatterjee of BA-I and Avinash Chaudhary of B.A-II were second and third respectively in the essay writing competition.

An environment awareness rally was organised by the department of environment education on Saturday as well. Dr. Gurjeet Kaur, dean, and Dr. Yashpal Kaur, vice principal, of the college flagged off the rally. More than 100 students participated in the event. Students carrying placards with environment related slogans took a round of Sector 46-B to spread awareness about protection of environment among the people.

The winners

Farzana of BA -III bagged the first prize, Maurya of B.Com-I and Mamta Negi of B.A-II received the second and third prizes respectively in the slogan writing competition. Mamta Negi of B.A-II got the first prize, Sautrik Chatterjee of BA-I and Avinash Chaudhary of B.A-II were second and third respectively in the essay writing competition.